Feeding mechanism for grinders



March 29, 193 s. A. STRICKLAND ET AL FEEDING MECHANISM FOR GRINDERSFiled Dec: 26, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS 170;

a 0 05 Z/brme ATTORNEYS March 29, 19 s; A. STRICKLAND ET AL FEEDINGMECHANISM FOR GRINDERS Filed Dec. 26, les 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar.29, 1932 UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE SILAS A. STRIC'KLAND AND THOMASZIMMERMAN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS,

BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CIN NATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO .NNATIGRINDERS INCORPORATED, OF CINCIN- FEEDING MECHANISM FOR GRINDEBSApplication filed December 26, 1928. Serial No. 328,328.

This invention relates to machines for centerless grinding, and moreparticularly to mechanism for automatically feeding work into grindingposition between the'grinding and regulating wheels of such machines.

An object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means forfeeding rolls or similar pieces to be ground, one at a time intogrinding position within a centerless grinder, and more particularly acenterless grinder of the type shown in our application filed in theUnited States Patent Office, on November 26, 1928, Serial No. 321,807. Afurther object whereby rolls or the like are automatically fed in timedrelation to the rotation of the regulating wheel of the grinding machineand which arrangement is such as to particularly adapt the mechanism tothe feeding of rolls of truncated conical form. A further object is toprovide means whereby the rolls are spaced and held and then releasedand fed, one at a time, and to provide certain other new and usefulfeatures in the construction and arrangement, all as hereinafter morefully set forth.

With'the above and other ends in view, the invention consists in thematters hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in theappended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings inwhich- Figure 1 is an enlarged sectional'detail of a portion of acenterless grinder, showing substantially in plan view,-feedingmechanism illustrative of an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail showing in end elevation, the mechanism shown in Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a View showing in end elevation, the grinding wheel andregulating wheel of a centerless grinder to which the present inventionis adapted to be applied;

Fig. 4 is a section substantially upon the line 44 of Fig. 1; and

is to provide an arrangementwheel axis to lating wheel, so th The workfeeding mechanism which is the v subject of this invention, is arrangedand particularly adapted for use in feeding truncated conical rolls tothe centerless grinder my application for and which grinder 1, and aregulating which is the subject of patent above referred to includes agrinding wheel wheel 2 arranged with their peripheries in' opposed andspaced apart relation to provide a grinding throat therebetween into'which the work is introduced by the feeding mechanism hereinafterdescribed. The machine also includes a work support 3 shown in Fig. 3 tosupport within the throat, the work while being ground, said supportcomprising a plate or plates projecting into the throat from one side ofthe wheels and provided with an end notch into which the rolls 4 areintroduced endwise. As shown in Fig. 3, the regulating wheel, which isrotated in timed relation to the speed of the grindin 'wheel to give thedesired differential perip heral speed between said wheels, and producethe desired grinding 5 to receive and guide the rolls and a portion ofthis groove is formed eccentric to the provide sufiicient space betweengrinding and regulating wheel peripheries during a portion of therotation of the reguat the rolls may be inserted endwise into theholding notch in the support 3. The regulating wheel 2 with a peripheralnotch 6 in which this groove terminates so that when said notch comesopposite the support 3, the roll being ground may drop from its supportthrough said is also formed notch and be discharged from the machine.

A roll 4 is therefore ground during each rotation of the regulatingwheel'and to insert" a roll at a certain point of each rotation, a feedslide 10 is mounted for reciprocation in a suitable guideway 11 providedby a suitable supporting frame 12 mounted adjacent the end faces of thewheels 1 and 2 with the end of the slide'directed toward the open end ofthe seat or notch in the support 3 to receive the rolls. A feed pipe orchute 13 is supported by the frame 12 with the discharge endof saidchute in position todischarge the rolls 4 into a groove let in the upperside of the forward end of this groove, and the bottom of this groove iscurved transversely as shown in Fig. 2 to conform substantially to thecross-sectional curvature of the rolls. This groove is also formed witha step which provides a transverse shoulder 15 between the main part ofsaid groove and an end portion 16, the bottom of the groove in'which endportion is inclined at an angle to the horizontal to correspond with theincluded angle of taper of the roll so that when a roll is restingwithin the groove of this end portion, its uppermost side will extend ina plane parallel with the plane of movement of the slide and the rollwill lie upon an inclined sup port in a position to slide freely fromthe end of the slide when projected into the grind- 7 ing throat uponthe support 3.

When the slide 10 is in retracted position I as shown in Fig. 5, theroll which was previously supported upon the end portion 16 of the slideas shown in Fig. 4, drops onto the bottom of the guideway 11 ahead ofsaid end portion and the next roll in line falls onto said end portionahead'of the;- shoulder 15, the third roll in line resting upon theslide and blocking the end of the chute by having its rear end beneathcolumn of rolls in the chute, which column is thus supported by saidthird roll. The first roll or the one ahead of the slide, is heldagainst being pushed out until such time as the slide is projectedforwardly in timed relation to the rotation of the regulating wheel, bya vertically movable foot 17 mounted in-a vertical guide 18 on the frameand normally, yieldingly held in its lowered position by means of acoiled spring 19 sleeved upon an adjustable stop bolt 20 secured to theupper end of the foot and passing freely through an end wall of theguide with adjusting nuts 21 on its outer end. The spring thus urges thefoot downwardly to the limit of its movement as determined by theadjustment of the sto nuts 21. The forward end of the foot 17 15 formedwith a rib 22 to engage the forward end of the roll 4 lying upon thebottom of the way 11 ahead of the end portion 16 of the slide, and adownward projection 23 on the heel portion of the foot engages theforward end of the roll which is resting upon the end portion'16 of theslide where said slide is in retracted position as shown in Fig. 5. Therear side of the projection 23 is beveled so that upon forward movementof the shde the said roll will be forced forwardly beneath saidrojection by the engagement of its rear en with the shoulder 15. Thisforcing of the roll into engagement with the inclined projection on thefoot will lift the foot against the action of its spring and lift therib 22 out of the path of the first roll, thus releasing said roll sothat it may be pushed out by the engagement of the forward end of theslide with its rear end as the slide advances.

When the slide has reached the forward end of its movement as shown inFig. 4, the

forward roll is in place within the grinding throat and the second rollresting on the end portion 16 of the slide has been caught between therib 22 and projection 23 on the foot. The roll thus caught by the footis therefore held in place while the slide is again being retracted andthe next roll in line is separated therefrom and held back by engagementwith theprojection 23. The rolls are therefore fed into the machine, oneat a time and the succeeding rolls are held in position to be movedforwardly upon the next forward movement of the, slide, and positive andaccurate feeding of the rolls is secured.

To positively feed the rolls in accurate timed relation to the rotationof the regulating wheel 2 so that when said wheel is in position toreceive a roll between it and the grinding wheel, a roll will be fed in,a cam rib 24 is provided on the end face of the regulating wheel 2 and aroller 25 mounted on a stud 26 projecting laterally from the slide 10 isadapted to roll upon this cam as the wheel turns and cause areciprocation of the slide. forms the axle of the roll 25. also passingthrough openings in the forked end of a plunger 27 which is guidedwithin a bore in the frame and serves to guide and support the roll. Astem 28 on the plunger 27 passes through a plate 29 covering the rearend of the bore in which the plunger reciprocates, and a coiled spring30 is sleeved on this stem within the bore between the plunger and plateto exert a force yieldingly holding the roll in firm engagement with itscam 24, the slide 10 being thus positively moved in one direction by'the cam and yieldingly moved in the opposite direction by the spring 30shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The stud 26 passes through and Should it be desirable to stop the feedwithout stopping the entire machine, the operation of the feed slide maybe prevented by pulling outwardon the stem 28 of the plungor 27 againstthe action of the spring 30, by means of a hand wheel 31 on the outerend of the stem and then looking the stem and also retracted from itsopening in the plate and then by turning the handle, the pin is movedout of alignment with said opening its end abutting the plate andholding the plunger 27 retracted against the action of sald spring 30with the roller 25 out of con-v tact with its cam 24 and with the slide10 in retracted position.

When the slide is held in inoperative position as described, there isnothing to prevent the rolls contained in the chute from workmg orsliding down, and perhaps piling up at the lower end of the chute. Toobviate such contingency, a latch plate 33 is pivoted at 34 and has alaterally extending arm 35 adapted to pro ect across the path of therolls and rest upon the rolls adjacerit the lower end of the chute whensaidlatch is swung down- .Wardly onto the rolls at the end of the chuteand hold the same in place against the action of the weight of the rollsin the chute.

While the present mechanism is particularly adapted for feedingtruncated conical rolls, it is obvious-that changes may be made to adaptthe same to feed rolls or other work pieces of different forms, and theemploying of mechanical elements other than as shown is contemplated asfalling within the scope of the appended claims.

' Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim is l l 1. Ina centerless grinder, the combination of a grinding wheel, a regulatingwheel in opposed peripheral spaced relation to said grinding wheel andforming a 1 grinding throat therebetween, said regulating wheel having aportion of its periphery formed to permit insertion of 7 work piecesinto said throat, means forfeeding work pieces, one at a time, throughsaid peripheral portion into. said throat, and means for operating saidfeeding means in timed relation. to the rotation of said regulatingwheel to feed a work piece into said throat through said peripheralportion during each rotation of said wheel.

2. In a centerless grinder, the combination of a grinding wheel, aregulating wheel in opposed peripheral spaced relation to said grindingwheel, said regulating wheel having a'portion of its periphery formed topermit insertion of work pieces into the space between said grinding andregulating wheels, a reciprocable feed member, and means forreciprocating said feed member in timed relation to the rotation of saidregulating member to feed work pieces,-one at "a time, into said spacebetween said wheels through said peripheral portion of said regulatingwheel.

3. In a centerless grinder, the combination of a grinding wheel, a,regulating wheel in opposed peripheral spaced relation to said grindingwheel, said regulating wheel having a portion of its periphery formed topermit'insertion of work pieces into the space 5 between said grindingand regulating wheels and a portion to permit the discharge of saidpieces at the end of each rotation of said regulating wheel, a feedmember for feeding a work piece into said space between said wheels ateach rotation of said regulating wheel and in timed relation to therotation of said wheel, and means for transmitting motion from saidregulating wheel to operate said feed member.

4. A centerless grinder as characterized in claim 1 and furthercharacterized by said feeding means including a reciprocable feedmember, a chute for feeding work pieces to said feed member, a cam onthe regulating wheel, and means engaged by said cam for reciprocatingsaid feed member.

5. A centerless grinder as characterized in claim 1 and furthercharacterized by said feeding means including a reciprocable'feed hold awork piece in the path of said slide and arranged to be moved by asucceeding work piece to release the piece held thereby when saidsucceeding piece is moved byforward movement of the slide, a cam on saidregulating wheel, and means operated by said cam for reciprocating saidslide in timed relation to the rotation of said regulating wheel. 7. Ina centerless grinder, the combination slide, a chute fonfeeding work inthe form of rolls to said slide, said slide being formed with a steppedend portion forming a shoulder to engage the end of a roll, a verticallymovable foot above the discharge end of said slide, said foot havingdownwardly extending portions to engage the ends of a roll therebeneathand means for reciprocating said slide.

8. In a grinder, the combination with a grinding wheel and a regulatingwheel, of a reciprocable feed slide, away for said slide, a chute fordelivering work in the form of rolls to said way and slide, said slidehavin a stepped end portion forming a shoul er and an'inclined seat, afoot above' said way, yieldable means for holding said foot movedtowardsaid way, said foot having a rib to engage one end of a rollbeneath said foot and having an" inclined portion at the other end ofsaid roll to be engaged by a succeeding roll and lift said foot uponforward movement of said slide, means for reciprocating said slide intimed relation to with grinding means, of 'a reciprocable feedcenterlessthe rotation of saidregulating wheel, and means for locking said slideagainst reciprocation.

9. A feeding mechanism for automatical- 1y inserting Work pieces intothe throat of a centerless grinder the combination with a work restblade within said throat, of a chute down which work pieces travel bygravity, a feeding slide at the terminus of said chute, a work supportbetween said work rest blade and the feed slide for supporting the workpiece to be next placed on the work rest blade, and means for actuatingthe feed slide to transfer the work piece on the support to the workrest, blade.

10. A feeding mechanism for automatically inserting work pieces into thethroat of a centerless grinder the combination with a work rest bladewithin said throat, of a chute down which work pieces travel by gravity,a feeding slide at the terminus of said chute, a work support betweensaid work rest blade and the feed slide for supporting the work piece tobe next placed on the work rest blade, means for actuating the feedslide to transfer the work piece on the support to the work rest blade,and a member overlying the work su port to prevent inadvertent dischargeof t e work from the support, said member being rendered inoperative bya work piece on the feed slide during its forward movement.

11. A feeding mechanism for automatically inserting work pieces into thethroat of a rinder the combination with a work rest bide within saidthroat, of a chute down which work pieces travel by gravity, a feedingslide at the terminus of said chute, a work support between said workrest blade and the feed slide for supporting the work piece to be nextplaced on the work rest blade, means for actuating the feed slide totransfer the work piece on the support to the work rest blade, a memberoverlying the work support to prevent inadvertent dischar e of the workfrom the support, said mem er being rendered inoperative by a work pieceon the feed slide during its forward movement, and means on the memberfor transferring a work piece on the feed slide to the work support.

12. In a device of the class described the combination with the throatof a -centerless grinder, of a work rest within said throat, a worksupport adjacent said work rest, a member overlying said support andnormally preventing discharge of the work from the support, the memberhaving a cam portion, a feed slide having a shoulder thereon and spacedfrom the free end thereof, said shoulder abutting the end of a workpiece on the slide, and means for actuating the feed slide toward andfrom the grinding throat whereby the work piece and the slide engagesthe cam portion of the member for rendering feed slide having a a worksame inoperative and the free end of the feed slide transfers the workpiece from the work support to the work rest blade.

13. In a device-of the class described the combination with the throatof a centerless grinder, of a work rest within said throat, a worksupport adjacent said work rest, a member overyling said support andnormally preventing discharge of the work from the support, the memberhaving a cam portion, a shoulder thereon and spaced from the free endthereof, said shoulder abutting the end of a work piece on the slide,means for actuating the feed slide toward and from the grinding throatwhereby the work piece and the slide engages the cam portion of themember for rendering same inoperative and the free end of the feed slidetransfers the work piece from the work support to the work rest blade, achute for delivering work pieces to the feed slide, and means forlimiting the number of pieces delivered to the slide when same is movedin one direction.

14. In a device of the class described the combination with thethroat ofa center-less grinder,

support adjacent said work rest, a member overlying said support andnormally preventing discharge of the work from the support, the memberhaving a cam portion, a feed slide having a shoulder thereon and spacedfrom the free end thereof, said shoulder abutting the end of a workpiece on the slide, means for actuating the feed slide toward and fromthe grindmgthroat whereby the work piece and the slide engages the camportion of the member for rendering same inoperative and the free end ofthe feed slide transfers the work piece from the work support to thework rest blade, a chute for delivering work pieces to the feed slide,means for limiting the number of pieces delivered to the slide when sameis moved in one direction, a regulating wheel on one side-of the workrest blade, and means associated with the wheel for controlling theoperation of the feed slide actuating means.

15. A centerless grinder including a grinding wheel, a regulating wheelin opposed relation thereto with a space between the peripheries of saidwheels forming a work receiving throat, a work support in said throat,said regulating wheel and the work support co-operatlng to maintain theposition of the work against skewing and endwise movement, a feed slidefor. feeding work into said throat upon said support, and means foroperating said slide in timed relation to the rotation of saidregulating wheel.

16. A centerless grinder including a grinding wheel, a regulating wheelin opposed relation thereto with a space between the peripheries of saidwheels forming a work receiving throat, a work support in said throat,

of a work rest within said throat,

said regulating wheel and the work support co-operating to maintain theposition of the work against skewing and endwise movement, a feed slidefor feeding work into said throat endwise of said support, a cam on saidregulating wheel, and means engaging said cam for operating said slide.

In testimony whereof We afiix our signatures.

SILAS A. STRICK'LAND. THOMAS ZIMMERMAN.

